Jack White Joins Stephen Colbert on Monroe Public Access After ‘Late Show’ Finale
On Thursday, May 21, Stephen Colbert hosted the finale of The Late Show. During his monologue, he reflected on his 2015 appearance on Michigan’s public access station, Only in Monroe, where he did a test of The Late Show in front of a 12-person audience and had Eminem as a guest. “Show business being what it is these days, that’s probably where you’ll see me next,” he said in the monologue, before making his way through yesterday.
The late-night legend occupied the 11:35 p.m. time slot last night with show hosts Michelle Baumann and Kaye Lani Rae Rafko Wilson, as well as guests including Detroit’s Jack White, who served as music director, and actors Steve Buscemi and Jeff Daniels.
It was a hectic hour. “You know you’ve got a lot of equipment over there,” Colbert said while introducing the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. “Uh, did you leave your wax cylinders at home?” The host and guests took a few photos after Colbert presented local news, then he got “high as a kite” by inhaling helium and singing along to The White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl.” White and Colbert had an intimate moment sharing a hot dog (as pictured above) during a segment about the rivalry between two local “Monroe-style” hot dog shops. Buscemi appeared in a public service announcement—not an advertisement—for The Original Buscemi’s Pizza & Subs, with which he is not affiliated. White also revealed that he was a Bigfoot expert.
@stereogumStephen Colbert made a surprise return to the airwaves last night, with Jack White as musical director and Bigfoot expert. Back in 2015, the talk show host appeared on Monroe, MI’s public access show ‘Only In Monroe’ before launching ‘The Late Show.’ On Friday, a day after his CBS run ended with a surprise Paul McCartney performance, Colbert came back to the program with a monologue, a Buscemi’s Pizza PSA, an interview with Jeff Daniels, and a segment about the rivalry between two local “Monroe-style” hot dog shops. White’s fellow Detroit icon Marshall Mathers — Colbert’s guest on ‘Only In Monroe’ last time — made a cameo as fire marshal at the end, giving him permission to destroy the set. White appeared on ‘The Colbert Report’ and ‘The Late Show’ many times over the years, and recorded a Third Man 7″ with the comedian in 2011. “God Bless Stephen, it is absolutely ridiculous that we live in a country where a President’s ego can vindictively censor network television…..and nobody stops him,” he posted yesterday. “Carry on down your new paths with your head held high sir. You’ve told the truth and given us so much to laugh at, and we’re expecting even more in the future. Thank you.”#StephenColbert#JackWhite#Eminem#MonroeMI#Bigfoot♬ original sound – stereogum
At the end, everyone started demolishing the makeshift set. White’s Detroit icon, Marshall Mathers—aka Eminem—appeared via video as the “fire commissioner” to give Colbert, White, and Daniels the go-ahead to burn the remains in a dumpster. (Speaking of dumpsters, Donald Trump tweeted an AI-generated video of himself throwing Colbert into one.)
White has appeared on The Colbert Report and The Late Show several times over the years and recorded a Third Man 7″ with the comedian in 2011. On Instagram yesterday, he posted, “America must give this man a standing ovation tonight. God bless you Stephen, it is absolutely ridiculous that we live in a country where a president’s ego can vindictively censor network television… and nobody stops him. Keep going on your new path with your head held high, sir.” You spoke the truth and gave us so many reasons to laugh, and we look forward to even more in the future. Thank you.
Watch some highlights and the full episode below.